Right-wing pundit Jordan Peterson to visit Israel next month

Right-wing academic Jordan Peterson will visit Israel next month for the first time in a move that will likely draw more backlash against him from social justice activists.

Peterson will deliver a lecture on 6 October at Jerusalem's International Convention Centre in an event funded by the Tikvah Fund - a Jewish organisation often described as right wing - and the Shibolet Library.

The Canadian will be interviewed by fellow right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro during the visit.

Peterson is a controversial media personality and is known for advocating strict gender norms and maintaining that there is no scientific proof for climate change.

In July, he sparked backlash after he urged Sunni and Shia Muslims to get pen-pals of the opposite sect and for them to reach out to Christians and Jews to achieve religious coherence in the Middle East and North Africa.

The message was condemned for appearing to ignore the demographics of the region - where Muslims, Christians, and Jews have lived together for centuries - and the inter-faith dialogue active in the region.

His comment came off the back of the so-called Abraham Accords that saw Israel normalise relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan - although the accords are commonly thought to be part of a common strategic vision for the region rather than an ecumenical effort.